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EWN reports that a bill that could transform governance in SA has been approved by both houses of Parliament and now awaits the President's signature.
The Public Service Amendment Bill is considered one of the most significant reforms since the 1996 Constitution was adopted. According to Dr Ivor Chipkin of the New South Institute, the legislation is a 'historic turning point'. It would establish in law for the first time the difference between political office and administrative office and would prevent, in law anyway, politicians from having administrative powers.
"Currently, what we have is a situation where our politicians, the President, cabinet ministers at a national level, and MECs at a provincial level, have powers over administrative decisions, the appointment of public servants, but even discretion over day-to-day decisions about how the department or the office should be run. These are traditionally administrative areas. The amendment takes away those powers from politicians, essentially, to meddle in the administrative functions of government departments,” Chipkin explained. He added that it would interrupt cadre deployment as appointments into the public service would have to go through a professional route, where people were selected based on merit, their experience, their skills and knowledge to do the job.
- Read the original of the report in the above regard by Celeste Martin and listen to a podcast at EWN
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